by Dov S-S Simens on July 23, 2017

July 23, 2017

Five Characteristics of a Good Scene, and Eight Signs of a Bad One

There are probably many more features that could be listed to describe scenes that “work” or “don’t work,” but here are some essentials as written by “Sreenwriters University” at the site (www.WritersStore.com) which is the best resource for Screenwriters as well as Writers, Poets, Journalists and Lyricists.

(“Always remember, “Nothing is Written… It’s Re-Written.”)

FIRST: 5 GOOD SCENE TRAITS

The scene connects to the main character’s problem/goal for that story. It should not be about something other than that. The problem should be so pressing that it requires their constant focus, in every scene.

It develops the problem in a new direction, which will lead to new scenes. It should not just be a “stutter step,” or failure that leaves them right where they started—it needs to “change the game.

(“As your 90-120 page script has, so too should each 1/2-3 page scene you write have, a Beginning, a Middle and an End.”)

3. It’s focused on a conflict, which builds entertainingly to a climax and “turn”. Conflict is the lifeblood of all drama and comedy, and whatever the main character of that story is trying to achieve in the scene, it has to meet with unexpected resistance.

4. It’s got a passionate, emotional point-of-view where we’re inside the main character of that story. The audience will only be engaged if they can relate to what they’re trying to achieve, and why—if they can feel for them on some level.

5. The subtext of the character’s attitude and desires behind their realistic dialogue is clear. What the main character is really after in the scene should be obvious to the audience—even if their dialogue does not always reveal that (as good and realistic dialogue usually doesn’t)

NEXT: 8 BAD CHARACTER TRAITS:

Information exchange: characters tell each other things, or tell the audience, but the nature of the problem isn’t building and developing.

Not a necessary step in the evolution of trying to solve central story problem: if the scene were cut, nobody would miss it, because its outcome doesn’t lead to and produce other scenes.

Not driven by a conflict/problem that builds to a climax: there is either no evident relatable problem or difficult agenda being pursued, or it doesn’t build throughout the scene and get worse.

“Good times”/success: audiences tend to get bored when characters are happy. Characters faced with a problem and actively trying to resolve it tends to draw audiences in.

Unclear main character motivations: if the audience doesn’t know what the main character wants, and why, they have nothing to hinge their emotional investment on, and will tend to disengage.

Objective vs. subjective point-of-view: audiences don’t like to look down on, or at, a bunch of characters—they want to take on the perspective of someone they can connect with, and experience the story as them!

Lack of strong driving emotion: good stories are all about an emotional experience, not an intellectual one. Characters need to feel, and feel strongly—which makes audiences feel, too…

Not fun to watch! Television is part of the “entertainment business” and writers are paid to entertain—meaning, to deliver to audiences an emotional experience that they want to have (be that laughter, fascination, shock, connection, inspiration, romance, escapism, etc.

FINALLY: DOV’S SCREENWRITER’S FORMULA

Do these 10 baby steps (see below) and in 6-8 weeks you will have an excellent script, based on your original idea, that you own, with an excellent chance of it being Optioned or Purchased by a production company that has a development deal with a movie studio or a cable network.

(“Follow this 10-Step Screenwriter’s Outline and you will have an excellent Script within 2-Months.”)

STEP 10 (SELL): Get either an Agent, a Manager or an Entertainment Attorney and send your script to Production Companies with Development Deals with Studios & Networks and prepare for “pitch meetings” and “deal making negotiations”.

Happy Filmmaking,

Dov Simens / Creator 2-DAY, DVD & VOD Film Schools

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Uh, so your advice for a novice is to write the beginning, then the end, THEN the middle, and immediately send it out for coverage at $225-300. How about rewriting it first and catching all of the stuff that doesn’t make sense first (even if it’s just little stuff), before wasting the money on coverage. Shouldn’t take more than a day or two to do that, right?… and that would probably get rid of some of the notes they’re bound to get.

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About Dov

About Dov S-S Simens

Dov S-S Simens after 12 years lecturing at NYU, UCLA & USC, was voted “America’s #1 Film Instructor” by the National Association of Film Schools and in 1996 formed the Hollywood Film Institute.

Over the past two decades Dov has travelled the globe and taught thousands in 34 nations, from industry pros like Quentin Tarantino, Will Smith & Guy Ritchie, to first-timers like Mark Archer, who for $25,000 produced “In the Company of Men” that grossed over $20 Million.

Mr. Simens, a revolutionary and former Green Beret, wanting film education to be available for everyone created his extremely affordable “2-Day Film School”, “DVD Film School” and “Online Film School” programs (see below) so that anyone with a dream, talent & work ethic can succeed as a producer, writer or director.